Signaling system



Oct. 29, 1929. c. R. MElssNER SIGNALING SYSTEM Fi1ed-Dec-15, 1927 mw wg m CHA/am 5 Patented Oct,` 29, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT 0F CHARLES R. MEIssNER, OE MADISON, NEW JERSEY, AssrsNoR To RELLTELEi-HONE LABORATORIES, INCORPORATED, OE NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OE NEW YORK SIGNALING SYSTEM Application led December 15, r1927'. Serial No. 240,125.

This invention relates to telephone systenis and moreparticularly to means for prolonging the effect of relays employed in such systems. y y

Very brief closures or Openings of the contacts of a relay may result either in the false operation or the failure to operate of apparatus depending thereon. In accordance with the present inventionmeans has been provided whereby the eii'ect of a 'momentary Opening of a relay Contact is prolonged. This consists of a tuned circuit interposed between the contact and the apparatus to be controlled thereby.

This invention has found one specific embodimentin testing the pulsing performed by full mechanical senders. Lack of adjustment of such an impulser due to wear or other reasons may result in the sending of short pulses between those intended, which pulses may result in the false setting of the receiving apparatus. It is desirable therefore in mais ing a test of a sender to detect the sending of such short impulses before they become of sufficient duration to affect the service receivinff apparatus. The customary testing arrangement differs from the equipment used in service only bybeing slightly more sensitive. It is therefore possible to detect false impulses only after they become nearly long enough to operatethe recording equipment. By means of the present invention it is possible to prolong the falseshort impulses to permit their detection and the subsequent adj'ustment of the impulser While the pulses are still far too short to produce falsenumbers in service. 4Means is also provided for stop-` ping the test whenever a heavy positive pulse, which is always afalse pulse, is received.

The drawing shows a portion of a sender testing equipment including the relays for receiving the pulses from the sender, one set of register relays with associated lamps for recording the number received and the arrangement of thepresent invention for prolonging short impulses. The arrangement shown may form apart of a complete sender testing equipment such as disclosed in United States Patentl 1,628,997 to J.` B. Retallack, granted May 17, 1927 Itis., Of course, understood that the invention is not limited to'use in such a system, nor to the testingof senders, nor to testingl in general.

The equipment shown comprises relays 100, 101, 102 and 103 which are connected in any suitable manner to a yfundamental circuit f extending to the senderyunder test. 'It is well known that. relay call indicators are operated by means of code impulses made up of light positive pulses, light negative pulses, and heavy negative pulses. Relays 101 and 102 .are sensitive soV as to respond to light pulses, and arepolarized so that relay 101 responds `to negative pulses only andrelay 102 "to positive pulses only. Relays 100 and 103 are marginal so that they respond only to heavy pulses. In addition relay 103 is polarized so as to respond only to positive pulses yand relay 100 is polarized to respond only to negative pulses.' A cycle of pulses corresponding to a singlev digit provides intervals. for four pulses, the, first Vand third of which'inay be positive and the second and fourth of which are always negative and may or may not beheavy. .The light negative pulses operate relay 101' which in turn serves to operate the pair of relays 107 f and 10,8 through a cycle of operations for each cycle of pulses. Normally relays 102 and100 respond to the light positive and heavy negative pulses, respectively, recording the code itself While relays 107 and 108 direct the circuits controlled by relays and/102 to the proper recordingyrelays. The irst positive pulse, ifany', causes `the operationvof relay 111; the iirst heavy negative pulse, of

relay 112; the second positive pulse, of relay 113; and the second heavy negative pulse, of

relay 114. These relays operate in different combinations according to the code received`Y and loclr up to provide a circuit for lighting the lamp corresponding to the digit represented by that code.' In' ay complete system, relays 10.7 and 108 also control transfer relays so that each cycle of pulses, whichrepresents a different digit of fa number being transmitted, will be recorded on a separate register. `Since a multiplicity of registers is not necessary for` an understandingof the` present invention only one has 'been shown.

this' purpose.

For a complete showing of such transfer relays and registers, reference is made to United States Patent 1,464,084 to Lundell and Clark, August 7, 1923.

Assuming that the receiving equipment is ready to receive'pulse's, ground Will be ,connected to conductors 104 and 105 in any suitable manner, key 106 having been shown for The connection of ground 'to conductor 104 completes .a circuit over the back Contact of relay 103, baclr contact of relay 109, Winding of relay 110 to battery. Relay 110 operates and locks over its inne-r right front contact andr back Contact of relay 103,` to grounded. conductor 104. 'he operation of`relay'110 completes a circuit from batterythrough the Winding of relay 115, retardation coil 116, back contact ofl relay 100, outer right front contact of relay 110, to groundedi conductor 104. lt also completes a circui't from battery through the Winding of relay 11.8, retardation coil 119, bach contact of relay 102, outer right front contact of relay' 110,. to grounded conductor 104. Relays 115 and 118 operate. The operation of relay 118V in connection with the grounding of conductor'105 completes a circuit from'battery through the Winding of relay 109, front contact of relay 118, to grounded conductor 105.

Relay 109l operates and locks over its inner right front Contact to grounded conductor 104, opening the operating circuit of relay 110.4

Assume that a code consisting of a light positive pulse, a heavy negative pulse, no pulse, and a heavy nega-tive pulse is to be received. The first pulse will cause the operation of relay'1'02. This opens the circuit of relay 118 and` that relay releases.y rA circuit is thereupon closedfrom battery through left winding of relay 111, right baclt lContact of relay 107, back contact of relay 118, baci; contact of relay1`01, conductor 121, left frontJ contact of relay 110, outer right front Contact off relay 109 to groundedV conductor 104. Relay 111v operates and locks through its two Windingsto grounded conductor 105. Y Upon the reception of the second pulse, relays 101 and 100operate. rlhe operation of relay 1.00 opens the circuit of relay 115 and that relay releases.' A circuit is then closed from battery throughy the left winding of relay 112, inner right back contact of relay 1108, right back contact of relay 115, conductor-121left front contactof relay 110, outer right front contact of relay 109 to grounded conductor 104. Relay 101 in operating closes a' circuit from` battery through the right. Winding. of relay 108, Winding of relay 107,

Vleft baclrcontact of relay 108, front Contact of: relay 101, conductor 121, and thence to ground as above traced. Relay 107 operates,

`but relay 108'cannot operate in this circuit.

The operationl of relay 107 closes a locking Y circuit from battery through the right Windkagain operated.

ing of relay 108,7Winding of relay 107, left Winding of relay 108, outer right front contact of relay 107 to grounded conductor 104. The operating circuit of relay 107 in shunt of the left Winding of relay 108 prevents relay 108 from operating at this time. When relay 101 opens its front contact at the end of the pulse, this shunt is opened and relay K 10 operates. v

During the next pulse period, no pulse is received; relay 102 is not energized; 'and relay 118 remains operated, holding the operating circuit for relay 113 open at its left Contact.

At the fourth pulse, relays 101 and 100 are Since relay 108 is operated at this time the circuit of relay 114 is completed from batterythrough the right- Winding of relay 114 over the right front Contact of relay 108, back Contact of relay 115, conductor 121, to ground as above traced. The operation of relay 101 closes a'circuit from battery through the right Winding of relay 108, left frontcontact of relay 108, front contact of relay 101 conductor 121 to ground. Relay 108 is held operated in this circuit, but rrelay 107 is shunted by itvand releases. At the end of he pulse, the circuit of relay 108 is opened and that relay also releases returning the pair of relays 107 and 108 to condition for receiving the next cycle of pulses.

l/Vith relays 111, 112 and 114 operated a circuit is prepared for lighting the No. 8 lamp Which circuit may be completed by the operation of display key 122. The operation of ltey 122 closes a circuit from ground over key 122, left back contact of relay 107, outer right back Contact of relay 108, Winding of relay 123 to battery. Relay 123 operates supplying ground andV battery for the lighting of the lamp. Since relay 114 is operated a circuit is also closed from ground at the left front contact of relay 123, outer front contact of relay 114, windings of relays 124 and 125 in parallel to battery. The lamp circuit may therefore be traced from batteryv over the right front contact of relay 123, through lamp No. 8, left front contact ofv relay 125, outer right front contact` of relay 111, left front contact of relay 112, left back contact of relay 113 to ground at the left contact of relay 123.

The description heretofore given has ignored the delay arrangement embodying the invention and controlled by relays 100 and 102. Thisrdelay circuit consist-s of the vretardation. coil 116, and condenser 117 in proper relation to the relay 115, coil 119,

Ycondenser 120and relayr 118 also embody the invention. As before indicated relay 115 is Voperated prior to the commencement of imup in coil 116,"charges condenser 117 to a high potential.' This potential then discharges through',r the retardation coil and an oscillatory condition is set up in the tuned circuit comprising inductance '116 and condenser 117. These oscillations take a time to die out -determined'by fthe relationship between the vcapacity of the condenser and the inductance of the coil' and their design. These/values are so adjusted that the oscillations die out well within the period that relay is operated in response to normal pulses.' However, if relay 100 is operated very brielly, reclosing the circuit of relay before the oscillations die down, these oscillations will discharge through relay 115whose impedance is mac e small as compared with that of coil 116 for this purpose. It the opening of the circuit ot' relay 115 is in vthe order of one half of the period of the oscillations, the condenser discharge actually reverses the direction of current flow through relay 115. Thereafter the effect ot the oscillations on rela-j)7 115 is to completely demagnetize it and to delay the building rup `ofdirect current through the relay due to thereclosure" of the contact of relay 100. f

For short openings the time of the opening plus the time during which the oscillations discharge is approximately constant because the shorten the openings are the stronger will be the discharge current since the oscillations are less attenuated and the greaterl its demagneti'zing ellect. Due to this demagnetizing'eiiect or the oscillatory discharge, thek relay starts to reenergize from complete demagnetization and its time ot operation is therefore very nearly constant.

The adjustment ofthe armature of relay r115 is rather stitll sofas to make it quick to release and somewhat slow to operate. llt

therefore releases instantly following the operationoit relay 100 and remains released through the operated time ot relay 100, the discharge period of the oscillations, and its i own energizing period whichfis increased ythe necessity of building up current through l retardation coil 116. Since the vlast two p vfor -said relay, apparatus controlled by said n periods are adjustable itis possibleto select apparatus Ifor. an arrangement ol this sort having such characteristics as to render the mon'ientary operation of a relay effective on recording equipment having normal `operating periods in excess thereof without interfering with .the response ofthe recording equipment to full length openings. For eX- ample in its present application breaks of .006 seconds duration at the contact of relay 100 can be employed to operate relays such as relay 111, having a normal operating period ot .020 seconds."r f

The false pulses likely to occur in a relay call indicator impulsing arrangement are heavy negativepulses at the beginning or end ot' a light negative pulse, a light positive pulse ing circuit ofrelay110 extends over the back 1 contact of relay 103 and ythatthe operating circuit of relay 110 is opened by the operas` tion of relay 109. `Therefore should a heavy positive pulse be received, the operation of relay103 immediately releases relay 110. A circuit is then closed from battery through lamp 126, right back contact of relay 110, to grounded lconductor 104. The release of relay 110 also disconnects ground from conductor 121, andtherefcre from the operating circuit for relays 107iand 108, as well as Jrom the register relays 112 and 114. It alsoxdisconnects ground 'from the armatures of relays 100 yand 102 releasing relays `115 and 118. Pulses continue to be received by relays 100 to 103 but are ineffective onthe recording` circuit-` Aifter an interval an alarm (not shown) informs the person yconducting* the test that the test has 'ailedand the lighting of lamp 126 indicates that ka heavy positivey pulse has been received.

In the case of false heavyfnegative pulses or false light positive pulses, the corresponding registerl relays will be operated and when the lamps are checked against the setting of the sender either automatically or visually,fan indication will beobtained of the points at which the sender impulser isl out ot' adjustment. fi'

lVhile the delay arrangement vof the present invention has been applied in detail to the ytesting of a relay call indicator impulser, it is, ofcourse, obvious that it might be applied to the testing of any sort oft' impulse transmitter,and that it may be applied with advantage to signaling systemswhere for any reason impulses maybe shortened beyond the `operating limits of apparatus tob'e controlled thereby. f

What is claimed is: V f y 'f 1. In a telephone system, 'a relay, a Contact` contact, and means `tor prolonging the effect of a momentary opening/ot said contact to effect'the operation of said apparatus, said means comprising a retardation-coil, a condenser and a second relay interposed between said contact and said apparatus.

2. Iny a telephone system, a relay, aconi tact for said relay, apparatus controlled f byr said contact,-and means for prolongingthe effect of a momentary opening ot said con-` n for said relay, apparatus controlled by said contact, and means for prolonging the eii'ect of a'momentary opening of said contact to edect the operation of said apparatus, said means comprising a tuned circuit having an oscillation period in the order of twice the period of said momentary opening interposed between said contact and said apparatus.V

4;. In a telephone system, a relay, a contact for said relay,Y apparatus controlled by said Contact, and means for prolonging the effect of a momentary opening of said contact to eii'ect the operation of said apparatus, said means comprising a retardation-coil and condenser of such characteristics as to have an oscillation period in the order of twice the Vperiod of said momentary opening interposed between said contact and said apparatus.

5. In a, telephone system, a relay, a contact for said relay, apparatus controlled by said relay, and means for prolonging the efriect oic a momentary opening of said Contact to effect the operation of said apparatus, said ineans'comprising a retardation-coil and condenser forming an oscillating circuit of such characteristics as to have an oscillation period in the order of twice the period of said momentary opening, and a second relay of such impedance as to form a discharge path for said oscillatingl circuit when said contact recloses. Y

6. In a` telephone system, a pulsing circuit, a relay responsive to pulses over said circuit, .apparatus responsive to said relay, said apparatus having a predetermined period of operation, and means for testing said pulsing circuit for short length pulses, comprising Ymeans for prolonging the eect. of short pulses to effect the operation of said apparatus. f

7. In a telephone system, a pulsing circuit, a relay responsive to'pulses over said circuit, apparatus responsive to Ysaid relay, said apparatus having a predetermined period of operation, and means for testing said pulsing circuit for short length pulses by prolonging the effect of short pulses so as to Veffect the operation of said apparatus, said means comprising a tuned circuit interposed between said relay and saidapparatus. Y

8. In a telephone system, a pulsing circuit, a relay responsive to pulses over said circuit, apparatus responsive to said relay, saidapparatus havingV afpredetermined` periody oi operation, and means for testing said pulsing circuit for short length pulses by prolonging the effect of short pulses so as to eiect the operation ot said apparatus, said means coml prising a retardation-coil and a condenser in parallel, and a second relay.

9. Ina telephone system, a pulsing circuit, a relay responsive to pulses over said circuit, apparatus responsive to said relay, said apparatus having. aV predetermined Vperiod of operation, and means for testing said pulsing circuit for short length pulses by prolonging the effect of short pulses'so as toe'ect the the operation of said apparatus, said means comprising a retardation-coil and a condenser in parallel, and a second relay.v

l0. In a telephone system, a pulsing circuit, a relay responsive to pulses over said circuit, apparatus responsive to said relay, said apparatus having a predetermined' period of operation, and means for testing said pulsing circuit for short length pulses by prolonging the eiect of short vpulses so as to eiiect the operation of said apparatus, said meanscomprising a tuned circuit having an oscillation period in the order of twice the ytime of said short pulses. Y

ll. In a telephone system, a pulsing circuit, a relayA responsive to pulses overV said circuit,.apparatus responsive to said relay, said apparatus having a predetermined period of operation, and means for testing said pulsing circuit for short length pulses by prolonging the etiect of short pulses so ras to effect the operation of said apparatus, said means comprising a retardation-coil and condenser of such characteristics as to have an oscillation period in the order of twice the period of said short pulses.

12. In a telephone system, a pulsing circuit, a relay responsive to pulses over said circuit to open its Contact, apparatus responsive to said relay, said apparatus having a predetermined period'ot1 operation, and means for testing said pulsing circuit for short length pulses by prolonging the ei'iect of short pulses so as to effect the operation of said apparatus,

sai-d means comprising a retardation-coil andV condenser forming an oscillating circuit of such characteristics as to have an oscillation period in the order of twice the period of said momentary contact openings, and a second relay of suchimpedance as to formv a discharge path for said oscillating circuit when said contact recloses. n

13. In a telephone system, a pulsing circuit, registers, means in said circuit for setting said Vregisters in accordance with light pulses ofone polarity and heavy pulses of the opposite polarity received over said pulsing cir-V cuit, and means also included in said circuit responsive to heavy pulses of said one polarity to render said setting means ineffective.

14j. VIn a telephone system, a pulsing circuit, relays in said pulsing circuit responsive to light pulses of one polarity and heavy pulses of the opposite polarity received over said circuit, registers, means controlled by said relays for setting said registers, another rela-y in said circuit responsive to heavy pulses of said one polarity, and means controlled by said other relay for disabling said means Jfor setting said registers.

15. In a telephone system, a pulsing circuit, relays in said pulsing circuit responsive to light pulses of one polarity and heavy pulses o the opposite polarity received over said circuit, registers, circuits controlled by said relays for setting said registers, another relay in said circuit responsive to heavy pulses of said one polarity, a signal, and means controlled by said other relay for opening said relay controlled Circuits and for displaying said signal.

16. In a telephone system, a pulsing circuit, means for recording a code comprising light pulses of one polarity and heavy pulses of the opposite polarity received over said circuit, means for detecting false heavy pulses of said one polarity comprising a relay included in said pulsing circuit, and means controlled by said relay for thereupon disabling said recording means.

17. In a telephone system, a pulsing circuit, means for recording a code comprising light pulses of one polarity and heavy pulses of the opposite polarity received over said eircuit, means for detecting false heavy pulses of said one polarity ycomprising a relay included in said pulsing circuit, and means controlled by said relay for preventing the recording of subsequent pulses.

18. In atelephone system, a pulsing circuit, means for recording a code comprising light pulses of one polarity and heavy pulses of the opposite polarity received over said circuit, means for detecting false heavy pulses of said one polarity comprising a relay ineluded in said pulsing circuit, an alarm signal, and means controlled by said relay for displaying said alarm signal and for preventing the recording of subsequent pulses.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my7name this 13th dayof December, A. D. 192 f CHARLES R. MEISSNER. 

